Method and system for managing multimedia traffic over ethernet

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for managing multimedia traffic over Ethernet are provided. In this regard, multimedia traffic comprising one or more Ethernet frames may be identified via one or more headers comprising the frames and processed according to the identification. In this regard, general Ethernet traffic may be multiplexed into egress frames based on the identification. Similarly, ingress Ethernet frames may be demultiplexed into multimedia traffic and general traffic based on the identification. Headers utilized to identify and/or route multimedia traffic and general traffic may comprise Ethertype and/or subtype fields. Headers utilized to identify and/or route multimedia traffic and general traffic may comprise a connection identifier field. Similarly, Headers utilized to identify and/or route multimedia traffic and general traffic may comprise a data type field.

1. A method for enabling communication of information, the method comprising:
 performing by one or more circuits and/or processors in a network device:
 determining whether an Ethernet frame includes DisplayPort traffic based on an Ethertype field of said Ethernet frame, said Ethertype field being separate from a payload of said Ethernet frame; and 
 demultiplexing said DisplayPort traffic based on a plurality of subtype fields in said payload of said Ethernet frame, wherein a first of said plurality of subtype fields identifies a connection identifier for said DisplayPort traffic and a second of said plurality of subtype fields identifies a type of multimedia content in said DisplayPort traffic. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said Ethernet frame is generated by multiplexing one or more DisplayPort streams into said Ethernet frames and inserting said Ethertype and said plurality of subtypes fields into said Ethernet frame. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising demultiplexing said Ethernet frame into general Ethernet traffic and said DisplayPort traffic based on said Ethertype field. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said second of said plurality of subtype fields identifies said type of multimedia content as audio and/or video traffic. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second of said plurality of subtype fields identifies said type of multimedia content as auxiliary traffic. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said connection identifier is used to generate a selection signal for a switching block. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said second of said plurality of subtype fields identifies a lane of a DisplayPort interface. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said payload includes DisplayPort mini-packets. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim l, wherein said de-multiplexing comprises de-multiplexing in an Ethernet to DisplayPort conversion module. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said DisplayPort traffic is demultiplexed onto a plurality of DisplayPort lanes. 
 
     
     
       11. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for enabling communication of information, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:
 receiving an Ethernet frame; 
 retrieving contents of an Ethertype field contained in a header of said Ethernet frame; 
 switching traffic contained in said Ethernet frame to a first path for processing Ethernet traffic when said contents of said Ethertype field does not indicate a multimedia traffic type; 
 switching traffic contained in said Ethernet frame to a second path for processing multimedia traffic when said contents of said Ethertype field indicate a multimedia traffic type; and 
 for said traffic that is switched to said second path, demultiplexing said switched traffic based on a plurality of subtype fields in a payload of said Ethernet frame, wherein a first of said plurality of subtype fields indicate a type of multimedia content. 
 
     
     
       12. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein said first of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic is video content. 
     
     
       13. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein said first of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic is audio content. 
     
     
       14. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein said first of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic is auxiliary control data. 
     
     
       15. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate a format of said traffic. 
     
     
       16. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields contains a connection identifier. 
     
     
       17. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic has been compressed. 
     
     
       18. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic has been encrypted. 
     
     
       19. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein said first of said plurality of subtype fields indicate a lane of a DisplayPort interface. 
     
     
       20. The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said multimedia traffic is formatted so as to be compliant with one or more DisplayPort protocols; and 
 said DisplayPort formatted multimedia traffic is demultiplexed onto a plurality of DisplayPort lanes. 
 
     
     
       21. A system for enabling communication of information, the system comprising:
 one or more circuits and/or processors for use in an Ethernet network, said one or more circuits and/or processors being operable to:
 switch traffic contained in an Ethernet frame to a first path when contents of an Ethertype field of a header of said Ethernet frame does not indicate a multimedia traffic type; 
 switch traffic contained in said Ethernet frame to a second path when said contents of said Ethertype field indicate a multimedia traffic type; and 
 for said traffic that is switched to said second path, demultiplex said traffic based on a plurality of subtype fields in a payload of said Ethernet frame, wherein a first of said plurality of subtype fields indicate a connection identifier that identifies a connection to which said Ethernet frame belongs. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein said Ethernet frame contains DisplayPort traffic. 
     
     
       23. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein said first path is for general Ethernet traffic. 
     
     
       24. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein said Ethertype identifies a particular format of said traffic. 
     
     
       25. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic is video content. 
     
     
       26. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic is audio content. 
     
     
       27. The system according to  claim 26 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic is auxiliary control data. 
     
     
       28. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate a format of said traffic. 
     
     
       29. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic has been compressed. 
     
     
       30. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein a second of said plurality of subtype fields indicate whether said traffic has been encrypted.